New york, 22 August (H.S.): Danish tennis star Holger Rune has withdrawn from the upcoming US Open 2026 as he continues his recovery from a heel injury, deciding against making his return to competitive tennis directly at a Grand Slam tournament.

The 23-year-old Rune suffered an injury to the back of his heel during the Stockholm semi-final in 2025 and has not played a competitive match since then.

Rune recently shared a photograph on social media with Carlos Alcaraz and members of his team, writing that he was very pleased with his progress and current level of performance. He said he and his team had been continuing to work hard on his recovery.

Rune added that he and his team had decided that his first tournament upon returning would not be a Grand Slam. He said he would instead target a return before the US Open, adding that he looked forward to meeting his fans again soon.

Facundo Diaz Acosta to Replace Rune

US Open organisers have confirmed that Argentina’s Facundo Diaz Acosta will take Rune’s place in the main draw.

Rune is not the only leading player to miss the tournament. World No. 1 Jannik Sinner has also withdrawn from the US Open due to injury.

Meanwhile, Carlos Alcaraz has announced that he will return to competitive tennis at the US Open after recovering from a wrist injury.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar